online survey - European Commission

Ref. Ares(2015)2389262 - 08/06/2015
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
Europe 2020: Employment Policies
Vocational Training and Adult Education
Brussels, 29 May 2015
C.5/HH/vh Ares (2015)
File code:
2013_ALLIANCEAPPRENTICESHIPS
REPORT
FIRST ONLINE SURVEY
ON THE EUROPEAN ALLIANCE FOR APPRENTICESHIPS
I - Overview
Background
Against the background of high youth unemployment and evidence of apprenticeships
facilitating transitions onto the labour market for young people, the European Alliance for
Apprenticeships1 (EAfA) was launched on 2 July 2013 in the context of the WorldSkills
competition in Leipzig (Germany). Its objectives are to promote the quantity, quality and
image of apprenticeships in Europe. Apprenticeships are a specific form of vocational
education and training (VET)2.
The first online survey on the Alliance was open from mid-March to mid-April 2015 and
aimed to map stakeholders’ activities and results in relation to the Alliance’s goals. It was also
conducted in order to have a report for the joint EU Latvian Presidency of the Council and
European Commission event on 22 June 2015 in Riga (Latvia) marking two years of the
Alliance.
Organisations addressed by the survey
The survey invited around 60 EAfA stakeholders and some 130 companies from the Alliance
for YOUth initiative to give their views. It did not include Member States or European social
partners, for whom separate follow-up mechanisms exist.
These stakeholders include:

1
Direct pledgers in six categories: businesses, social partners, chambers of
commerce/industry/crafts, education and training providers, regions, as well as nonprofit and youth organisations.
The joint declaration on the Alliance was signed by European Social Partners, the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of
the European Union and the European Commission
2
Apprenticeships are formal vocational education and training programmes, that combine company-based training with
school-based education, and that lead to nationally recognised qualifications.

Alliance for YOUth: Nestlé business-led group pledge for the period 2014-2016
unites companies to provide apprenticeships, traineeships and readiness for work
events for young people. It includes a focus on quality, supply and image of
apprenticeships.

Ambassadors: business professionals sharing knowledge and experiences to support
the establishment of quality apprenticeships across Europe.
Methodology and questions
The survey contained open and closed questions examining achievements to date and looking
ahead at next steps.
This report presents the results along the six questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What have been the results in implementing your pledge since its submission?
Has the number of apprenticeships increased since the submission of your pledge?
Is your organisation aiming to increase the number of apprentices in 2016?
What activities are you planning next?
How could the EU best support your activities?
Do you have any proposals on how the Alliance can better meet its objectives?
Results
The survey received a total of 56 replies. 37 were from direct members, 15 replies
representing businesses from the Alliance for YOUth led by Nestlé and an additional four
from Ambassadors. From direct pledgers businesses (9), chambers (7), social partners (9 - of
which 8 trade unions), education and training providers (7), regional authorities (1), and other
non-profit or youth organisations (4).
It should be noted that a few respondents declined participation in the survey for various
reasons. The European Round Table of Industrialists considered that their network of
individual company members was more suited to reply directly, while Microsoft referred to
the reply given by the European Youth Forum, which was also valid for them, since both
organisations had a joint pledge. The Welsh government responded that it did in general not
participate in surveys, but that another approach to give an update was welcome.
When replying to the survey several stakeholders mentioned success stories in relation to their
achievements. The most convincing ones were selected and extracts have been published in
the EAfA brochure marking two years of the Alliance, which is also available online on the
Commission's EAfA website.
2
II - Summary of replies3
Q 1 What have been the results in implementing your pledge since its submission?
Main findings: Respondents have focused on activities related to one or more of the three
main goals of the Alliance. Mobility has emerged as an additional topic. Many activities by
the different categories of stakeholders were complementary and mutually enhancing.
3

Businesses: included a qualitative focus on developing right/transversal skills and
sponsored research into comparative career progression. Increasing the supply by
setting-up new apprenticeship schemes with local authorities and VET providers, using
public procurement to increase the supply of apprenticeships in SMEs, Ambassadorship
activities, using a bus to tour business parks to promote the image of apprenticeships,
and some apprenticeship learning mobility.

Chambers: included study visits to different countries to strengthen expertise, pilot
projects introducing the dual system to increase supply and quality (AT - SK, BG, RO),
Erasmus+ project on modernising apprenticeships (CY, GR), training for company
tutors in SMEs, linking VET providers and business (ES), national awareness raising
campaigns (FR). Expanding and deepening an online platform of competent
intermediate bodies to promote quality of learning mobility.

Social Partners: included a focus on fostering quality and image of VET teachers and
trainers and apprenticeships through seminars notably by ETUCE and some of its
national member organisations (FR, MT, NL, LT, PL). Meetings with policymakers and
employers to ensure good functioning of apprenticeship system. Also improvement of
VET legislation and VET criteria (LT), participating in a national Apprenticeship
Alliance (DE), and quality, supply and image activities within the food and drinks
sector.

Education & Training Providers: included the organisation of roundtables to promote
the Alliance, design of new apprenticeship training programmes to improve quality and
delivery methods, such as blended learning course for company trainers, intensified
partnerships with schools for apprenticeships to increase supply of training apprentices.
Peer learning activities and sharing good practices between education and training
providers from different countries and VET systems, cooperation.

Regional authority: included the implementation of a new strategic VET agenda
focusing on internationalisation, and quality by responding to company's skill needs.

Non-profit/Youth: included the development of a quality learning network for
companies on apprenticeship and traineeship, the development of self-assessment tool
on quality of apprenticeships in companies, and the production of a quality charter
internships/apprenticeships. In addition, campaigning on the quality, supply, image and
funding of apprenticeships towards government, information to VET schools and
employers.
The report constitutes examples of replies on the basis of activities reported by respondents; it is not an exhaustive list.
3
Q 2 Has the number of apprenticeships increased since the submission of your pledge?
57% of respondents reported increase since submitting the pledge
Yes
No
No answer
Examples for "yes":
- Siemens: number of apprentices in the EU (without DE) increased from 1,439 in 2013
(30 September) to 1,506 in 2014 (30 September)
- Repsol: created 42 new apprenticeships
- Swiss Post: set target of 5% apprenticeships out of total workforce
Reasons provided for "no" or "no answer":
Some organisations reported that it was more difficult to reply to this question (e.g. trade
unions), as they did not have a direct influence on the number of new placements.
Q 3 Is your organisation aiming to increase the number of apprentices in 2016?
62.5% of respondents reported increase planned for 2016
Yes
No
No answer
Examples for "yes":
- Horeca Flanders Training provider: aimed to create 250 new apprenticeship contracts
for 2016
- - Austrian Economic Chambers: expected to create 60 new apprenticeships in Romania
and 90 new apprenticeships in Bulgaria
Reasons for "no" or "no answer" include: Respondents referred in some cases to lack of data or
uncertain funding due to the economic situation or legislative setting, as well as the varying
focus of pledges which may not have addressed an increase in the supply of apprenticeships.
4
Q 4 What activities are you planning next?
Main findings: Numerous respondents replied that they would broadly continue and/or build
on the activities carried out to date, but there were also some new initiatives planned.

Businesses: activities planned around attracting talent and employer branding in schools,
enhanced skills progression and costs of apprenticeships. Increasing the supply of
apprenticeships by signing protocols with more professional schools and exploring
further expansion of apprenticeships, increased cooperation with government and
Public Employment Services, activities according to new legislation on apprenticeships,
Nestlé survey addressed to Alliance for YOUth business partners to monitor progress;
applying for EU funds to promote apprenticeships.

Chambers: exploring possible initiatives for a helpdesk and coaching to facilitate SME
involvement in apprenticeships (EU level), facilitating matching of apprentices and
companies (CY), further pilot projects for transferring dual learning models (AT) and
implementing Erasmus+ project for "Danube Region Academy", activities on
apprenticeships aimed at implementing Youth Guarantee with support of ESF, including
skills mapping (ES), improved quality assurance for learning mobility of apprentices
and development of e-twinning webspace and more awareness raising through annual
national apprenticeship week (FR).

Social Partners: continued focus of trade union organisations on improving quality of
teachers and trainers, ensuring a safe working environment for VET teachers (MT);
publication of brochure for members but also quality of certification and support to
disadvantaged youth (FR), ensuring business/public authorities respect their
responsibility on apprenticeships (DE), further cooperation with Cedefop to improve
apprenticeship system, including monitoring of working/training conditions (LT),
continuing project implementation in food and drinks sector.

Education & Training Providers: strengthening partnerships (business/public
authorities), conferences on promoting the EAfA and dissemination actions with public
authorities, companies and VET providers, training for VET trainers, matching skills
(including low-skilled), broadening spectrum of types of apprenticeships and
practical training profiles, integrating apprenticeship programmes in dual learning
(BE), participation in projects, creating a group of business and higher education
representatives to improve cooperation, including on apprenticeships.

Regional authority: Modernisation of VET centres through innovation, value creation
and new technology, as well as improved organisational and operational models.

Non-profit/Youth: fostering transnational apprenticeship schemes, business & youth,
improve careers advice for young people and support employers, notably SMEs, to do
more on apprenticeships including through a campaign, continue dissemination of selfassessment tools for companies on apprenticeships and continued reach out to
companies.
5
Q 5 How could the EU best support your activities?
Key themes: Many respondents highlighted the need to promote partnerships and funding,
e.g. for setting-up apprenticeships, projects, production and dissemination of teaching and
information material.
 Businesses: proposals included for the EU to improve skills matching, to increase dual
learning for VET/higher education and further encourage reform of apprenticeship
systems in Member States.

Chambers: suggested for the EU to promote and share more expertise on
apprenticeships, to foster know-how transfer and strengthen intermediary bodies
notably to foster placements in SMEs.

Social Partners: several referred to the need to enhance support to social dialogue at
national level for strengthening their role in apprenticeships, as well as capacity
building for example through better access to Erasmus + projects.

Education & Training Providers: proposed for the EU to focus on improving learning
outcomes, promote apprenticeships at EQF level 5/6, and further strengthen VET
provider organisations at EU level.

Regional authority: suggested for the EU to reinforce regional/territorial dimension.

Non-profit/Youth: proposals included for new European Commission initiatives in the
field of vocational training to have in-built quality control systems.
Q 6 Do you have any proposals on how the Alliance can better meet its objectives?
Key themes: The majority of respondents pointed to the need to further improve visibility of
activities, sharing of good practices and networking.
 Businesses: suggestions included for the Alliance to better communicate the added
value of EAfA, to make key achievements more visible and facilitate link between
Alliance partners and national authorities.

Chambers: proposed for the Alliance to showcase more pledge delivery and create a
blog, to develop institutional requirements and introduce a 50% VET target for
apprenticeships.

Social Partners: called for more support of the Alliance to VET teachers/trainers,
stronger awareness-raising activities, EU events on youth unemployment.

Education & Training Providers: suggested for the Alliance to better explain the term
apprenticeships, focus on impact, and have a clearer distinction between role of
different stakeholders.

Regional authority: called for a concrete EAfA action plan, a stronger involvement of
other parts of the European Commission and EU institutions.

Non-profit/Youth: emphasised the need for further networking and dialogue among
partners, as well as sharing of good practices.
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III - Report conclusions
Many of the respondents to the survey highlighted concrete progress, notably a reported
increase in the supply of apprenticeships since EAfA members made their pledge, and an
expected increase for 2016. Equally important were the positive developments reported on the
quality and image of apprenticeships. Moreover, the survey revealed the growing importance
of mobility in apprenticeships.
The results also highlighted the valuable role and active commitment of the wide range of
EAfA stakeholders, through their diverse and complementary activities. Taking into account
the different starting points of pledges, respondents noted considerable cooperation, peer
learning and sharing of good practices, as well as strong awareness-raising.
At the same time, the survey also revealed some challenges, such as the varying levels of
experience with apprenticeships and different interpretations of the concept. The distinction
between apprenticeships, traineeships and other training activities is not always clear. This
applies in particular for stakeholders in the Alliance for YOUth, which has a broader scope
than apprenticeships. Moreover, some respondents commented on the continuing challenge of
how to better monitor and evaluate outcomes. Others remarked on the need to have a clearer
distinction between the different roles of stakeholders.
On EU support to stakeholders, many respondents underlined the need to promote
partnerships and funding, including better access to Erasmus+ for setting-up apprenticeships
or production and dissemination of information material and spreading expertise. Other areas
of useful EU support were attributed to promoting dual learning for VET/higher education,
encouraging reforms of apprenticeships, strengthening the role of intermediary bodies to
facilitate the uptake for apprenticeships in SMEs, enhancing social dialogue, as well as
improving quality learning outcomes, including through more support to VET trainers.
On the Alliance itself, and how it could better meet its objectives, many respondents pointed
to the need to improve its visibility by showcasing more pledge delivery, facilitating the link
between Alliance partners and national authorities, and delivering a concrete EAfA action
plan. More sharing of good practices and networking were also considered as vital.
Next steps
Both the survey and report are a starting point for an annual follow-up and monitoring
exercise managed by the European Commission with the support of Cedefop. Building on the
experience of the online survey, the European Commission will also launch a study in late
2015 to assess the functioning and the progress in relation to the European Alliance for
Apprenticeships. The study will not only cover individual pledges addressed through the
survey, but also commitments submitted by Member States and EU social partners.
Annex: List of organisations that have submitted replies to the survey.
7
Annex I
Direct pledgers
Eurashe (European Association of Institutions
in Higher Education)
EVBB (European Association for VET
Institutes) – Replies from Germany and
Portugal
Horeca Vlaanderen
1. Business
AIM
BASF
EMH Group
Nestlé
Pera Training
Repsol
Robert Bosch
Siemens
Swiss Post
5. Regions
Basque region
6. Non-profit/Youth organisations
Apprenticeships 4 England
Apprenticeships for Scotland
European Youth Forum
You Net
2. Chambers of industry/commerce/craft
Assemblée Permanente des Métiers, APCMA
Austrian Economics Chamber, WKÖ
Chambers of Commerce and Industry of
Terrassa
Chambers of Commerce and Industry of
Cyprus
Chambers of Commerce and Industry of
France
Eurochambres
High Council of Official Chambers of
Commerce, Industry and Navigation Spain
Alliance for YOUth (led by Nestlé)
A and R Carton Oy
Adecco
Axa
BA Glass
Eurogroup Consulting
Iberfruta
Nielsen
Nordic Label
Portucel
Rudolf Wild GmbH
Saica
Securex
Sogec
Vodafone Portugal
White and Case LLP
3. Social partners
AOb the Netherlands
EFFAT/Food Drink Europe (joint pledge,
separate replies)
ETUCE
GEW, German Education and Science Trade
Union
Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation/
Federation of Lithuanian Education and
Science Trade Union (joint pledge and reply)
Malta Union of Teachers
Solidarnosc Poland
UNSA Education France
Ambassadors
EMH Group (also pledge)
Apprenticeships 4 England (also pledge)
Apprenticeships for Scotland (also pledge)
GI Group
Nestlé (also pledge)
Proactive Training & Skills Services Ltd
Repsol (also pledge)
SAP
Siemens (also pledge)
Swiss Post (also pledge)
Telecom Italia
4. Education and training providers
CIAPE (Centro Italiano per l'Apprendimento
Permanente)
EfVET (European Forum of Technical and
Vocational Educaiton and Training)
EU ProVET
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